New strategies emerging at Tempe City Hall to help those experiencing homelessness

By Benjamin Garcia
Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

Tempe City Council is implementing new strategies to help people who are experiencing the trauma of enduring homelessness within municipal bounds.

City Council is eying new strategies to help combat homelessness in Tempe to go along with three others already implemented, officials there say.

“The City of Tempe has a long history of conscientious program development to address homelessness,” Paul Bentley, deputy human services director, said. “Today, Tempe is considered an innovator in creating successful strategies for assisting people out of homelessness.”

Last fall, the sitting City Council challenged its staff to bring back ideas that would help benefit people experiencing homelessness. The result? Promotion of safety for all members of the city as well as decriminalizing homelessness.

“The staff is proposing six different shelter strategies. Three are existing and three are new. Existing options, including emergency shelter units, motel rooms and shelter beds provided through the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program (I-HELP), are in various parts of the city. The three new options are still under consideration and no locations have been established,” Mr. Bentley said.

Tempe has had a rich history in program development in addressing things such as homelessness, officials say.

In hopes to continue combating homelessness, Tempe City Council has proposed a 200-unit permanent supportive housing complex.

“Ground-up construction of a new shelter would meet increasing congregate shelter needs,” Mr. Bentley explained. “This option may offer a partnership opportunity with a nonprofit looking to increase existing shelter space and or add new shelter availability.”

Additionally, the City of Tempe is investing in additional shelters and prevention services throughout the community.

“The city currently invests significant funds for shelter and prevention services through the Agency Review process to organizations such as Tempe Community Action Agency, La Mesita Family Homeless Shelter, and Salvation Army,” Mr. Bentley pointed out.

“The proposal to expand shelter beds, along with this continued funding support, will bolster the collective work of the city and our community partners.”